When Count Grahm arrives, it's almost midnight.

I'm tired as hell, but I have to look appropriate. So, I fight a yawn and take Alexander's arm. I fix the shawl on my shoulders and check my hairstyle in a small mirror.

Wonderful. I'm as fresh as if I've just woken up.

The last thing I need is a count judging my appearance and comparing me to his young and innocent daughter. I have been married for months. Such a life shows its traces even on the better woman.

«You should have gone to bed,» Alexander says, pulling me slightly closer. «Are you warm enough?»

«I'm fine,» I reassure him. I need to see whether the Count is alone.

My Duke bows down to peck my forehead at the exact moment when the door is opened. I don't think it's on purpose, but this coincidence is definitely useful for me.

They better stop to try hooking up their daughter with my husband.

«Greetings, your grace,» the Count states after walking in. «And your grace,» he adds, bowing slightly in my direction. «Thank you for your hospitality. It's so convenient that we can stay at your castle on the way to the north.»

«I've heard that you were appointed by his majesty to look over the borders,» Alexander starts after nodding his head slightly as a greeting. He's a duke. There's no need to go out of his way for a count.

«I hope you won't be bothered by our visit, though,» Grahm adds, grinning. «I didn't come alone.»

«I prepared enough rooms for the whole delegation,» I point out.

There is space for any combination possible. The maids have been instructed to the detail, so there won't even be that embarrassing moment where I would need to tell them where to allocate whom.

Just as expected, Elisabeth is among the ladies following Count Grahm.

«I'm so glad that you're here as well, lady Elisabeth,» I say. My eyes shine with happiness at seeing her. «I'm always in the mood for a talk with someone my age!»

Playing at home is always the best. One can dare to make the first move, both in war and in love. I don't need to be cautious because I won't be attacked by a random passerby nor judged by a group of crazy ladies.

Hit by my kind words, Elisabeth Grahm's face turns red. But she doesn't dare to reply.

After all, we're in front of the love of her life. The only man she deems at her level.

I don't comprehend what happened between her and Alexander, and I probably won't know ever. My dreams won't show me of a time when Alexander is a winner, just his first life full of sufferings. Yet, it's evident that most of this lady's claims are just the fruit of her mind.

«Show our guests their rooms,» I order the head maid and lean on Alexander to remind him that he is the Lord of Kyre, not I. He's been staring at me with a blank expression, considering details that aren't relevant for the whole time.

He greeted the guests and let me handle all the rest.

You lazy Duke.

I pinch his arm under the shawl, and he looks at me with a beaten expression. Am I perhaps being too harsh?

But I haven't done anything! I just warned you to say something, damn it!

«Are you tired?» he mutters.

No, no! The guests! Not me.

«Oh,» he moans.

He turns towards the Count and his delegation and smiles with his best polite smile.

«I hope you won't feel offended, Count. I have to take care of my wife now.»

I didn't mean it like this. It's a bit embarrassing... What if all those people misunderstand your words?

As I glance at the strangers and see lady Elisabeth's expression, I change my mind about it. Indeed, his words aren't all that bad.

«I'm kind of hungry. What about you?»

«All right,» I sigh.

Has he lost all his capabilities to handle a situation? It's like taking care of a big child. His span of attention is so short, except when he's looking at me.

«You shouldn't stay up so late, my dear.»

«You shouldn't nag,» I whisper.

We leave the hall behind us while the maids accompany the guests to their lodgings.

There will be a lot of people around for the next few days, so lady Lyana won't be walking away as often as before.

She's somehow uneasy with people. That's the reasons Alexander didn't ask her to come to the capital to meet me. I still feel there's more to the story, but she's been so helpful till now that I couldn't force myself to inquire about it.

She will continue to be helpful, but not on public occasions where people from the capital are present and roaring.

After changing into my nightgown, I lie in bed and cuddle in Alexander's eyes.

«Why don't you tell me about the pirates once more?» I start, grinning and rubbing my cheek on his chest.

He was so proud of how he bravely managed to defend Queen Theodora from the invasion. Too bad I dreamt about all that happened. He just pointed out that those people couldn't be from Ethiro.

He got a hell of a reward for something that didn't change anyone's fate, but I guess that Queen Theodora wasn't much wiser than me. She fell into this moron's trap while thinking that she had the upper hand.

What sound mind could offer to my husband to do just whatever? Ah, at least I'm not as naive as her.

«How you defended me from them with all your wits and courage...» I continued. Still, his expression is so calm. He's remembering about something very pleasing, doesn't he?

I wondered what made his smile so nostalgic the first time he told me this story. Now, I know.

I dreamt it during the night, and I woke up with the intention to interrogate Alexander until confession. But I wasn't expecting guests and all the preparations that come from that.

«It's late, Thea. You should sleep.»

«I'll sleep after a bed story.»

«No, you'll sleep now. Or I won't tell you bed stories again.»

«Then at least tell me how Queen Theodora reacted to your bravery!»

«I can show you,» he whispers to my ear.

The shiver that crosses my whole spine, from head to bottom, makes him chuckle.

«Sleep,» he repeats after pecking my forehead. «I'll tell you everything one day.»

Has he sensed that I have some suspicions? Is he saying this only to soothe me in case I find out everything?

«To the little detail?» I continue. There's no way I stop teasing him without proper motivation.

I wonder if he used his knowledge about Queen Theodora to deceive me as well...

«You're so fired up today,» he murmurs after turning off the candle on the bedside table.

He surrounds me with his arms. His heart is beating steady, no matter the emotions from the day and my suspicious words. He's so calm that it's scary.

«And you're so passive,» I pout.

«I've been so nervous that I don't have any more energy for that. And I don't have enough reasons.»

«So, you don't have anything to do right now? No revenge plans?»

He chuckles before answering.

«I still do, but they can wait. I can't lose you just because of a rushed plan...»

«I want to help you!»

«That's what I was referring to. I won't let you endanger yourself...»

I roll on the side and clench his shirt to pull myself up. When our lips meet in a sweet kiss, I dare to bite my Duke, lightly and swiftly.

«I won't die,» I promise. «I'm not as naive as Queen Theodora.»

«Zolokis isn't the only threat around, Thea.»

«One after the other. We don't need to take them down all at the same time. Let's start with those that are the most reachable.»

«The Grahms?»

«Not the Duke, though. Only the Count. Elisabeth will soon be gone. Her appearance here today tells me that spoils of what is going to happen have already reached the capital.»

«Mhm? You already finished your plan...»

«It was supposed to be a surprise,» I giggle. «Be patient and surprised like anyone else. If his majesty hasn't informed you yet, then the deal must be still being considered.»

«You call it a deal?»

«I'm solving two big issues of the Empire, and I'm doing it for free.»

As the darkness hides my expression, Alexander's hand never stops caressing my shoulder and arm.

«You shouldn't work for free,» he states. «You're too rare to use your talents like this. Ethiro doesn't deserve you.»

«You're the one that decided I had to become Ethirian. Now, bear with my new patriotic ideals.»

As silence welcomes my words, I realise I need to be more convincing than this.

«Husband,» I add.

«Do you need my help?» he mechanically replies.

His voice is still doubting, but he's accepting that I'll have it my way regardless of his inner fears and traumas.

If Alexander wants a good life far from danger... Then, I'll give him one!